Scratchmen Apoo in One Piece

Apoo's past is relatively mysterious, with limited information available. He became a pirate and established the On Air Pirates, leading his crew on a journey through the Grand Line. During this voyage, they navigated the dangerous waters of the Grand Line and gained notoriety, eventually earning a substantial bounty of Beli 198,000,000 before reaching the Sabaody Archipelago.

Sabaody Archipelago Arc

Apoo and his crew arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago after a long voyage along one of the Log Pose routes of the Grand Line. They intended to prepare themselves for entering the New World, the second half of the Grand Line known for its extreme challenges. During his time at Sabaody,

Apoo had a confrontation with Eustass Kid in Grove 24. Recognizing the potential consequences of causing trouble in Sabaody, Apoo proposed to Kid that they postpone their battle until they meet again in the New World, a suggestion that Kid accepted.

While staying at Sabaody, Apoo and his crew witnessed the oppression and cruelty inflicted upon the local inhabitants by the World Nobles. One incident involved Saint Charlos mistreating a citizen, which prompted Roronoa Zoro to intervene and defend the man. Jewelry Bonney intervened as well, faking Zoro's death to prevent an escalation of the situation. Apoo was present during this incident and sensed Zoro's strong determination and killing intent.

Upon learning about Monkey D. Luffy's attack on a World Noble, Apoo seemed reluctant to leave the Sabaody Archipelago. He inquired whether the Marines would only target the Straw Hat Pirates or if they would also go after other pirates. Like X Drake, another pirate in the vicinity, Apoo was curious to know which admiral would be dispatched to handle the situation caused by the Straw Hat crew's actions.

Despite his crew's attempts to get him to leave the island, Scratchmen Apoo was determined to witness Admiral Kizaru's actions and provoke him before making his escape.

During the chaotic events at Sabaody Archipelago, a fierce battle broke out involving various pirates and marines, including Kizaru, a Pacifista (an advanced battle robot), and fellow Supernovas Basil Hawkins, X Drake, and Urouge. Apoo eagerly observed the brawl, excited to see the three captains' true powers in action. He was particularly intrigued by Drake's Zoan-type Devil Fruit ability, which allowed him to transform into a dinosaur.

As the fight unfolded, Kizaru managed to defeat Urouge and temporarily incapacitate Hawkins by blinding him. He was about to deliver a finishing blow to Hawkins when Apoo intervened. Apoo used his unique ability to emit sounds from various parts of his body, turning them into musical instruments as he rapped over the melody.

This musical attack stunned and mesmerized Kizaru, the other captains, and even the Pacifista. The attack not only damaged Kizaru but also produced a sonic wave that cut off his right arm and caused an explosion, incapacitating him.

Seizing the opportunity, Apoo attempted to escape, but Kizaru used his Devil Fruit powers to reassemble himself and quickly catch up to the pirate by teleporting. Kizaru then delivered a powerful kick that sent Apoo crashing through a building, leaving him defeated and severely injured on the ground.

Marineford Arc

Following the events at Sabaody Archipelago, Scratchmen Apoo managed to evade capture by the Marines and regrouped with his crew. They sailed away from Sabaody but later returned to witness the televised execution of Portgas D. Ace. Apoo correctly deduced that the Marines had cut off the broadcast for a specific reason, hinting at his perceptive nature.

Apoo was also among the Supernova crews that gathered in the vicinity of Marineford to witness the conclusion of the war between the Marines and Whitebeard's forces. He expressed surprise and curiosity about Trafalgar Law's decision to rescue Luffy, given Law's notorious reputation and Luffy's status as a rival.

Post-War Arc

After the war, Apoo and his crew successfully entered the New World, encountering various challenges along the way. On a spring island, they faced a stampede of monstrous boars. Apoo demonstrated quick thinking by commanding his crew to jump off a cliff, but to everyone's amazement, they ran seemingly on thin air, escaping the pursuing boars.

During the Timeskip

During the two-year timeskip, Apoo and his crew ventured into Big Mom's territory but were forced to flee. At some point, he joined the Beasts Pirates, led by Kaido, although he kept his allegiance a secret from the public. His bounty also increased significantly during this time, reaching Beli 350,000,000, reflecting his growing notoriety and influence in the New World.

Punk Hazard Arc

During the events centered around Punk Hazard, Apoo received an invitation and arrived at Eustass Kid's base in the New World. In the base's main room, he created chaos by tearing the place apart, claiming to suspect a hidden sniper.

Basil Hawkins sat at a nearby table, remaining composed throughout the commotion. When Kid arrived and objected to the damage Apoo was causing, the two captains quickly engaged in a fight, leaving Kid's first mate, Killer, surprised and trying to mediate between them.

After a heated confrontation, Hawkins decided to leave the scene, but Killer stopped him. It was at this point that Killer revealed their intention to form an alliance between the On Air Pirates, Kid Pirates, and Hawkins Pirates.

The news of their alliance was later reported in a newspaper, though the group was puzzled about how the information had been leaked. Nevertheless, they put that matter aside and began making plans to challenge one of the Four Emperors

Dressrosa Arc

Following the defeat of Donquixote Doflamingo, Kid, Hawkins, and Apoo were having a meal together when they learned about the events that transpired in Dressrosa. They deduced that Luffy and Law were targeting Kaido, as Doflamingo had connections with him. They were content with the fact that Luffy and Law were pursuing a different Emperor.

At a later point, the three captains were alerted by what seemed to be an earthquake. Investigating the source of the disturbance, they discovered a massive human-shaped hole in the ground. From this hole emerged a gigantic figure, who had plummeted 10,000 meters from Ballon Terminal, a Sky Island.

This enormous man turned out to be Kaido, one of the Four Emperors. In this moment, it was revealed that Apoo had already been working for Kaido, with the intent of setting up Kid and Hawkins to join Kaido's ranks as his subordinates.

Zou Arc

After the defeat of Kaido's subordinate Jack, Apoo contacted Kaido to report the loss of communication with Jack.

One Piece: Stampede (Non-Canon)

Apoo and his crew took part in the Pirates Festival on Delta Island, a major event in the world of pirates. The festival featured the Treasure Race, a race to claim Gol D. Roger's treasure, and various battles between Worst Generation members and other pirates.

During the Treasure Race, Apoo safely navigated the Knock Up Stream, which is a treacherous waterway leading to the central Treasure Island. There, all participating pirates raced against each other while engaging in battles. When the infamous Warlord Buggy exposed himself while snatching the treasure, Apoo and his crew joined the chase to capture Buggy.

However, the Treasure Race was abruptly interrupted when an unknown individual threw a galleon at the island, causing widespread destruction and sending everything crashing back to the surface. It was revealed that the one responsible for this chaos was Douglas Bullet, a powerful veteran of the pirate world.

Apoo, along with other Worst Generation members (excluding Zoro and Law), confronted Bullet in response to his taunting. They initially managed to land some blows on the veteran pirate. Still, when Bullet revealed his Gasha Gasha no Mi powers, the tide of the battle quickly turned, and they were defeated.

After Bullet's eventual defeat, Apoo and other Worst Generation pirates, along with several other crews, attempted to break through the encirclement of Marines surrounding the island. They successfully escaped, thanks in part to the efforts of Sabo and Ann, who created a blazing barrier to protect them.

Wano Country Arc

Apoo arrived in Wano and contacted Kaido to inform him of his arrival to attend the Fire Festival, an event hosted by the Beasts Pirates. During the festival, Apoo played the role of the DJ as the Beasts Pirates celebrated.

When Luffy and Zoro began causing trouble at the festival, Apoo joined the fray and used his fighting music to injure them. However, Kid intervened and defeated Apoo by creating a gigantic scrap metal fist.

Apoo quickly recovered and retaliated, but his attacks had no effect on Luffy, Zoro, and Kid, who covered their ears to protect themselves from his sound-based abilities.

As the Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance waged war inside Onigashima, Apoo attempted to attack Luffy and Sanji, but they were able to protect themselves using Observation Haki. Apoo then ordered one of the Numbers, Hatcha, to attack the rebels.

During the chaos of the battle, Apoo tried to escape but was locked in a room by Queen, one of Kaido's calamities. Queen gave Apoo the only antibody vial to the Ice Oni virus, a deadly plague unleashed on the Live Stage, and challenged everyone to try and take it from him.

Apoo became the target of both the alliance and the Beasts Pirates as they chased him throughout the Live Stage. Zoro and Drake eventually caught up with him, launching a combined assault. While Apoo was busy defending himself from Drake's attacks, Zoro struck him down and acquired the antibody vial.

Despite his defeat, Apoo later recovered and attempted to retrieve the vial, but Drake prevented him from doing so. Apoo persistently attempted to retrieve the antibody vial, even facing off against Drake and Hyogoro simultaneously. However, despite his efforts, he remained unable to get past them.

He was impressed by Hyogoro's resistance to the virus and his subsequent strength boost, which allowed him to defeat many members of the Orochi Oniwabanshu and Mimawarigumi.

Apoo later withdrew from the Performance Floor and took shelter in the Cave Chamber along with three Numbers and Drake. He proposed an alliance to Drake, suggesting that they work together to take down the victor of the ongoing battle.

However, Drake did not accept the proposal, and Apoo was forced to defend himself from Drake's attacks while using his Devil Fruit powers. Despite his attempts to gain the upper hand with the Numbers backing him up, Apoo was frustrated when Drake figured out how his ability worked.

When Yamato suddenly appeared, Apoo switched tactics and tried to convince him to join their plan to take down the victor of the war. However, Yamato rejected Apoo's offer, and Apoo gave chase, hoping to persuade him. He was joined by Inbi and Zanki in his pursuit.

Apoo eventually reached the second floor of the basement, still intent on recruiting Yamato to his cause. There, he witnessed the Kazenbo falling through the floor and causing chaos. Excited by the presence of CP0 agents Guernica and Maha, Apoo saw an opportunity to sell the news story to Morgans. However, he was silenced by Guernica, who struck him on the neck, preventing him from making any noise.

Apoo survived a lethal strike thanks to his Busoshoku Haki, countering an attack from CP0 meant for Drake. Reluctantly, he agreed to team up with Drake to fight the government agents. However, when the agents gained the upper hand, Apoo and Inbi abandoned the fight, leaving Zanki and Drake behind. Apoo apologized to Zanki but showed no remorse toward Drake.

Later, when they were unable to escape from the basement due to the fire, Inbi tried to break through a wall, but it was too hot and burned his hand. Apoo scolded him for complaining and urged him to sacrifice his arm for their survival. However, Inbi grew irritated, and Apoo asked him if he wanted to fight.

They were ultimately saved from the flames by the water with which Raizo and Jinbe flooded the castle. Apoo was shocked to hear Nekomamushi's announcement that Luffy had defeated Kaido.

Despite Wano's closed border, Apoo succeeded in leaking information on the events of the raid. A week later, he and Inbi met up with the pirates repairing their ships at Tokage Port. Apoo tossed down a newspaper that announced updated bounties and new Emperors. The news of Luffy becoming an Emperor of the Sea made Kid storm off, and the Heart and Kid Pirates followed him to the Flower Capital.

Apoo is an eccentric and boisterous pirate who revels in music and festivities, often incorporating dance and music into his actions. This penchant for entertainment is evident in his behavior, as he exudes the charisma of a stereotypical radio personality.

Apoo's joy in being a part of the Beasts Pirates is heightened by their annual "Golden Kagura" celebration during the Fire Festival, a highlight he never wants to miss. His enthusiasm extends to his hobby as an enthusiastic photographer and journalist, always on the lookout for news stories that could bring him substantial profits.

Despite his outward flamboyance, Apoo is not one to seek unnecessary conflict. He tends to be passive and defensive during confrontations, preferring to avoid causing harm without a compelling reason. This cautious approach was exemplified when he delayed a brawl with Eustass Kid, choosing to enter the New World instead.

However, his curiosity about intriguing battles can lead him to become an audience when the opportunity arises. While he typically avoids direct confrontations with formidable opponents, he takes pleasure in taunting and provoking them before making a strategic retreat.

Apoo's character is marked by opportunism and cunning. He values striking from a safe distance and using surprise to his advantage. He is known for his treacherous nature and is willing to switch allegiances on a whim. His loyalty primarily rests with himself, and he holds a low opinion of pirate alliances, believing they ultimately lead to betrayal. Apoo skillfully manipulates situations, often letting others fight amongst themselves to achieve his goals.

Despite his outgoing and reckless facade, Apoo can be cautious and distrustful, especially in hostile environments. He remains wary of the intentions of others and is perceptive enough to sense impending danger or killing intent. This mindset makes him careful and calculated in his actions, especially when he finds himself in potentially perilous situations.

Finally, Apoo possesses a strong sense of tenacity and courage. He does not easily back down from a fight once it begins and exhibits a resilient spirit. Even in the face of danger, such as when he confronted CP0 agents while trying to obtain incriminating photos, he remains undeterred and continues his mission.

Apoo’s most striking attribute is his incredibly long arms, a characteristic of the Longarm Tribe. These arms possess two elbow joints each, giving them a much greater length than a normal person's. This physical trait allows him to seamlessly use his Devil Fruit powers to create musical instruments from his arms.

Apoo's chest cavity is notably broad, potentially contributing to his ability to produce deep and resonating sounds, akin to the beats of a drum. His lower jaw is wider than the upper part of his face, similar to another character from the series, Itomimizu of the Foxy Pirates. Additionally, his teeth are uniquely shaped, resembling piano keys.

His distinct hairstyle resembles lightning patterns, with his scalp hair pulled tightly to form these patterns. His hair, particularly the portion at the center of his forehead, has a triangular shape after the timeskip. He is often seen wearing a pair of headphones with his name inscribed on either side, a nod to his musical theme.

Apoo's attire is inspired by music and Chinese garb styles. He wears a red gown adorned with a flower-like print across the chest, featuring the kanji character 音 (oto), meaning "sound" or "music." This motif is also present on his back. He has a yellow scarf tied around his waist, adding to his unique fashion sense. A design resembling a green rose is sewn onto the front of his left shoulder.

After the timeskip, he now wears black headphones and has updated his gown to include ornamental ropes and epaulets on the shoulders, reminiscent of high-ranking marine uniforms. His fashion choices continue to reflect his affinity for music and his eccentric personality.

In earlier drawings as a child, Apoo had a rounder face and shorter hair, with a distinctive pompadour-like front hairstyle and a braid at the back. His attire was simpler, featuring a shirt and bow tie, and his teeth lacked the piano key markings.

As a member of the Worst Generation, Apoo is a formidable pirate who successfully navigated the treacherous waters of the Grand Line's first half and entered the New World. His notoriety and strength are evident from his rising bounty, which escalated from Beli 198,000,000 (ranking sixth among the Eleven Supernovas of his generation) to Beli 350,000,000 during the timeskip, indicating substantial growth in his power.

Apoo, despite his eccentric appearance and demeanor, has proven himself to be a highly competent and no-nonsense combatant, primarily owing to his unique and dangerous Devil Fruit ability. Before the timeskip, on the Sabaody Archipelago, he managed to deliver two effective surprise attacks on Marine Admiral Kizaru, a feat that none of the other Supernovas in the battle could achieve, although he failed to inflict any harm.

Post-timeskip, during the events on Onigashima, Apoo demonstrated his combat prowess by injuring both Monkey D. Luffy and Roronoa Zoro successively. He briefly incapacitated Luffy with a single attack, capitalizing on their lack of understanding and knowledge of how to defend against his powers. Overall, Apoo has held his own against fellow members of the Worst Generation, including X Drake, even when they are familiar with his abilities.

As the former informant of the Beasts Pirates, Apoo held a significant degree of authority within the organization. He possessed the ability to command the Numbers, a group known for being extremely challenging to control for other members of the Beasts Pirates.

Apoo's talents extend beyond combat. He exhibits exceptional musical abilities, which complement his Devil Fruit powers. He can effortlessly play various instruments that he can transform into, showcasing his versatility.

In addition to his musical talents, Apoo is a skilled DJ, aligning with his musical persona.

In battle, Apoo wields a pair of tonfas with great skill, allowing him to engage proficient sword and axe wielders in combat.

Apoo has also demonstrated proficiency in both Busoshoku Haki and Kenbunshoku Haki. He employed Busoshoku Haki to protect himself from a potentially lethal Shigan attack by CP0 agent Guernica, showcasing his proficiency in the advanced Haki technique.

Physical Abilities

Apoo's combat style primarily revolves around engaging opponents from a medium-to-long distance using his "Fighting Music." Despite this preference, he has showcased competence in close-quarters combat when wielding his pair of tonfas.

His strength is evident as he has been able to parry attacks from two formidable adversaries simultaneously. Notably, he engaged in exchanges with X Drake even when the latter was in his formidable human-allosaurus hybrid form, displaying his close-quarters combat prowess.

In addition to his combat skills, Apoo possesses impressive agility and acrobatic jumping abilities, which contribute to his overall mobility and evasive maneuvers. He has demonstrated notable durability by remaining conscious and capable of fighting even after enduring powerful attacks.

For instance, he withstood being kicked into a multi-story concrete building with enough force to make it collapse and promptly recovered from a palm strike from Kid's massive arm of scrap metal. Furthermore, Apoo sustained a deep chest wound from an attack by Zoro but remained conscious and combat-ready.

Intelligence

Apoo is not only a skilled fighter but also possesses high intelligence, enabling him to strategize and manipulate situations to his advantage. He showcased his cunning nature by presenting a deceptive proposal of alliance to both the Kid Pirates and the Hawkins Pirates, which was a ruse to eventually absorb them into the Beast Pirates, to whom he had already pledged his loyalty.

During his time in Wano, Apoo displayed his intelligence by evading confrontation with members of the Worst Generation and other powerful opponents while not engaging in significant battles himself.

In his interactions with fellow Worst Generation member X Drake, he proposed the idea of forming an alliance to eliminate the side that emerged victorious in the raid, but his proposal was rejected. He attempted a similar tactic with Kaido's son, Yamato, in an unsuccessful bid to manipulate circumstances in his favor.

Devil Fruit

Apoo ate the Oto Oto no Mi, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that grants him a unique and formidable ability referred to as "Tatakau Music." This Devil Fruit allows him to morph different parts of his body into various musical instruments, offering a range of instrumental options.

These transformations enable him to play specific notes and tunes using these instruments, releasing sound waves with diverse effects upon anyone who hears them.

Apoo can shape his body into instruments like cymbals, bulb horns, drums on his chest, piano keys with his teeth, or even an arm turned into a saxophone. By playing these instruments, he can produce sound waves with a wide array of effects, including slashing, impact, or explosive damage. The type of damage inflicted depends on the specific instrument he uses for his musical attacks.

One of the notable features of Apoo's ability is its apparent hypnotic effect, which adds an element of control over his targets. He can manipulate individuals through the sounds he creates.

The key strength of Apoo's Devil Fruit power is its speed and unpredictability. His attacks can carry anywhere within hearing range, and the effects are nearly instant and unavoidable as long as the chosen target hears the music. This rapid onset of damage leaves even exceptionally fast adversaries unable to react effectively, making his attacks highly formidable.

However, there are clear weaknesses in Apoo's ability. If the target's ears are blocked or covered, even just with their hands, before the sound reaches them, they become immune to his techniques. This vulnerability can be exploited by opponents who are aware of this weakness.

Furthermore, if a person is outside the predetermined range of the sound, typically referred to as hearing range, they remain unaffected by Apoo's attacks. Since Apoo aims his musical assaults with his sight, opponents can predict the trajectory of the attacks based on where Apoo is looking and dodge accordingly.

Eustass Kid

Eustass Kid and Scratchmen Apoo have a complicated history. They initially clashed at Sabaody Archipelago but decided to postpone their fight until they reached the New World. Later, in the New World, Apoo damaged Kid's hideout and attacked one of Kid's crew members under the suspicion that Kid was hiding a sniper. This altercation led to a brief scuffle, but it was soon revealed that they had secretly planned to form an alliance.

For a time, Kid and Apoo seemed to be on better terms as they, along with their respective crews, were able to dine together. However, their alliance was shattered when it was exposed that Apoo had ties to the Beasts Pirates, particularly Kaido. Kid felt betrayed and immediately dissolved the alliance.

During the raid on Onigashima, Kid wasted no time seeking revenge against Apoo for his perceived betrayal. Apoo, in turn, was shocked to see Kid and panicked when Kid attacked him. Apoo mocked Kid for thinking that their alliance had any chance of taking down an Emperor, emphasizing that pirate alliances rarely end well.

Beasts Pirates

Apoo joined the Beasts Pirates as an informant and scout, identifying powerful individuals for potential recruitment into their crew. He was instrumental in luring Kid and Hawkins into Kaido's service.

While Apoo appears to have some faith in Kaido's abilities, he does not seem particularly loyal to the Beasts Pirates' leader. Apoo even mentioned that he would not hesitate to finish Kaido off if Kaido emerged victorious in the conflict between the Beasts Pirates and the Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance.

Queen

Apoo and Queen's relationship is characterized by their shared love for music. They refer to each other as "brother" and have been seen performing together at concerts, suggesting a strong bond based on their musical interests. However, there is a stark contrast in their views on certain matters.

Apoo finds Queen's virus-based weapons repulsive, indicating a difference in values and sensibilities. Their camaraderie is further tested when Queen subjects Apoo to a sadistic game involving the Ice Oni virus. Apoo is given the antibodies to the virus and threatened with death if he loses them to the infected people pursuing him.

Numbers

Apoo appears to hold a position of authority and influence over the Numbers, a group of giant members in Kaido's crew. He is shown summoning and interacting with them, suggesting that he plays a significant role in their coordination and activities.

Apoo views the giants as allies and friends rather than just fellow crewmates. Apoo's concern for their safety is evident when he apologizes to Zanki for leaving him behind while fleeing from CP0 Agents and ensures that Inbi is close to him during their escape.

X Drake

Apoo and X Drake share a longstanding rivalry characterized by mutual animosity. Their enmity likely stems from their time as members of the Tobiroppo, where Drake held a strong dislike for Apoo. Conversely, Apoo views Drake's attempt to align with the Straw Hat Pirates with contempt, finding it laughable. Despite their differences, Apoo proposed an alliance with Drake during the events at Onigashima.

He suggested that they work together, regardless of the battle's outcome, as neither of them seemed to fit into either side's agenda. Drake initially rejected Apoo's proposal, but circumstances led them to temporarily team up to confront CP0 agents Guernica and Maha.

However, when the agents gained the upper hand, Apoo abandoned the fight, leaving Drake behind without displaying any remorse or regrets for his decision.

Apart from the One Piece manga and its anime adaptation, Apoo is also a playable character in the following games:

• One Py Berry Match

• One Piece Thousand Storm

• One Piece Treasure Cruise

• One Piece Bon! Bon! Journey!!

• One Piece Bounty Rush

He is a supporting character in:

• One Piece: Gigant Battle! 2 New World

• One Piece: Super Grand Battle! X

• One Piece: Burning Blood

• One Piece: Great Pirate Colosseum

In addition to these, he is also a non-playable character in One Piece: Gigant Battle.

Apoo has also been featured in merchandise like Anichara Heroes, One Piece Amazing Log Collection, One Piece Super Deformed Figures, and the World Collectable series. However, he hasn't appeared in any other merchandise as of now.

• Apoo's surname, Scratchmen, appears to reference scratching, a DJ technique involving manipulating sounds by moving a vinyl record on a turntable.

• His distinct laugh, "Apapapapapapa," resembles the sound of scratching a record on a turntable, aligning with his character's themes.

• Apoo is the first member of the Longarm Tribe in the series and the sole one to have consumed a Devil Fruit.

• In episodes 628 and 629 of the anime, Apoo's name is mistakenly spelled as "Scratcimen Apoo," diverging from the manga's romanization.

• Apoo's rankings in fan popularity polls are as follows: 37th, 75th, 179th, and 169th in the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th polls, respectively.

• Unlike other Worst Generation members, neither Apoo nor Capone Bege ranked among the top hundred in the 7th fan poll.

• SBS-Based Trivia:

• Apoo's birthday, March 19, corresponds to the "Day of Music," in reference to his musical abilities.

• His name is derived from the 19th-century Chinese pirate Chui A-poo.

• Apoo's favored food is tom yam soup, while his least favorite is mayonnaise.

• He resembles an orangutan in terms of animal resemblance.

• In a real-world context, if One Piece were set in reality, Apoo would hail from China, reflecting his namesake Chui A-poo.

• Responding to a fan query about his floral resemblance, Oda identified Apoo as most resembling a poppy.

• If not a pirate, Apoo would have been a DJ as an alternative occupation.

• His hobbies include DJing and surfing.